The Link Between Diabetes and Shoulder Disorders: New Research in the UK Reveals Surprising Findings

KOMPAS.com – Diabetes is a chronic disease that can affect anyone, both men and women.

Symptoms of diabetes vary, from those appearing on the skin, nerves, to the eyes.

However, it turns out that diabetes symptoms can also appear in other areas of the body, namely around the shoulders.

Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, Friday (19/1/2024), diabetes sufferers are at higher risk of experiencing various disorders of the bones and joints.

In the journal Diabetes and Shoulder Disorders (2016), it was stated that there was a higher prevalence rate of up to 27.5 percent of shoulder disorders experienced by diabetes patients compared to only 5 percent for other medical patients.

So, what are the signs of diabetes that appear around the shoulders?

New research in the UK

Reporting from Express, Monday (22/1/2024), new research has identified symptoms that are less well known to the public, from high blood sugar levels that are not treated properly.

High blood glucose, which is a problem for those with diabetes, has long been linked to leg and foot problems, including diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur in the hands, feet or legs.

Research found that diabetes is also associated with muscle and bone problems in the upper body.

The research team explained that problems ranging from stiff shoulders to sore wrists can actually lead to diabetes.

The researchers came to this conclusion by looking at data from 370,000 participants in the UK Biobank study.

Also read: 5 fish that diabetics should not eat, what are they?

Symptoms of diabetes that appear in the shoulder

Researchers mention four recognizable signs of diabetes that appear in the shoulder area, namely:

• Frozen shoulder (the connective tissue in the joint thickens, which can cause stiffness and discomfort)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome or carpal tunnel syndrome (numbness or tingling felt in the wrist)
• Dupuytren’s contracture (connective tissue in the hand thickens and tightens, causing the fingers to bend inward)
• Trigger finger (a similar condition to Dupuytren’s contracture, but only affects one finger).

Research shows that over time, high blood sugar increases the body’s levels of substances called advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which form when proteins, fats and DNA mix with sugar in the bloodstream.

A buildup of AGEs in the hands and shoulders can cause damage and thickening of tendons, joints and connective tissue. This is what triggers carpal tunnel syndrome and shoulder stiffness.

Dr Harry Green from the University of Exeter Medical School said, this research has been carried out consistently and shows that high blood sugar levels in the long term can cause this condition which can be classified as a complication of diabetes.

Also read: 5 fish that diabetics should not eat, what are they?

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2024-01-27 04:30:00
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